BRMC must pay for nurse’s medical expenses after patient attack

From NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Bergen Regional Medical Center must pay for an employee’s medical expenses after she was attacked by a patient and accused the hospital of failing to offer a safe work environment, an arbitrator has ruled.

Sandra Giancarlo, who has worked at the hospital as a nurse for more than 10 years, reported that she was attacked in January 2015 by a patient who caused physical harm and mental distress, according to the arbitration documents.

The patient, who was reportedly physically larger than Giancarlo, scratched her face, ripped her hair out, and caused injuries to her knee and back. The injuries forced her to have surgery, take pain medications, and undergo sessions with a psychiatrist.